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LAND TITLES 



AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. 



CHARl.KS A. CHASE. 



47602 



LAND TITLES 



AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. 



CHARLES A. CHASE. 



From Pbooeedings of the American Antiquarian Society, at the 
Semi-Annual Meeting, April 24, 1901. 



^^^lotfc^tev, Pa,$,si., m. ^. §. 

PKP:SS of CHARLES HAMILTON 
3 11 Main S t u e e t . 
19 2'. 



LAND TITLES OF THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN 
SOCIETY. 



At the April iiieetins: of this Society, two years ago, it 
being the last one which we were to hold as guests of the 
American Acadeni}' of Arts and Sciences, I gave some 
account of the places in which the Boston meetings had 
])een held since the first meeting for organization on Nov. 
11, 1812. 

Within the last month there have been entered of 
record in the Registry of Deeds at Worcester,^ instru- 
ments l)y which the County of Worcester and the Ameri- 
can Antiquarian Society by nmtual agreements and releases 
establish forever the boundaries between their respective 
estates, which have been recently changed by the action of 
the County Commissioners under the sanction of the Gen- 
eral Court. 

The land on which the first Hall of the Society was 
erected, was in the immediate neighl)orhood of the lot now 
occupied, and it seemed fitting to the writer to trace the 
land titles of each estate, and to make them a matter of 
record in our Proceedings. This he has not done strictly 
after the manner of the professional conveyancer, but in a 
way which will give the history of the titles with some side 
facts not without interest in themselves. 

In going back to the early proprietors of this land, we 
are struck by the very goodlj^ fellowship in Avhich we find 
our original grantors. Capt. Daniel Gookin was chairman 

' See page 19. 



of the first committee appointed by the General Court in 
1665 to view the neighborhood and to determine "if there 
be a meet place for a plantation." A committee, appointed 
later, to have charge of the settlement, included Capt. 
Gookin, Daniel Henchman, Richard Beers and Thomas 
Prentice. To Dr. Leonard Hoar of Concord, third Presi- 
dent of Harvard College, 25 acres were assigned in the 
first allotment. The death of Dr. Hoar occurred at about 
the same time, and 40 acres were subsequently granted to 
his executrix, Mrs. Bridget Usher of Boston, in lieu of the 
original grant. ^ Capt. Adam Winthrop, a grandson of 
Gov. John Winthrop, w^as (jne of the first settlers, and at 
the death of Gen. Gookin succeeded to the latter s place as 
the representative of the interests of the Commonwealth. 
Cornelius Waldo, Jr., in companj^ w^ith Thomas Palmer of 
Boston, and John Oulton of Marblehead, became the own- 
ers of very large tracts of land. Mr. Waldo's son Daniel 
was President of the first bank estal)lished in Worcester, 
and the latter's daughter was the mother of Gov. Levi 
Lincoln. 

The fame of Daniel Gookin, to whom more tlian to any 
other one man Worcester owes its settlement, is l)y no 
means simph' local. He was the associate of John ICliot 
in the work of civilizing the Indians ; and the Lidians of 
the whole colony were placed under his charge hy the 
Legislature in 1656. He was appointed l)y Cromwell a 
commissioner to induce New Englanders to emigrate to the 
island of Jamaica ; but his efforts in this direction met with 
slight success, and he threw up the commission. Li 1674 
he published " Historical Collections of the Lidians in New 
England ; of tiieir Several Nations, Numbers, Customs, 
Manners, Relioion and Government before the Eno-lish 
planted there."- His "History of the Christian Indians" 

' Bridget Usher conveyed to Joshua Rice. B. 20, p. 375, Middlesex Registry. 

2 These are in tlie form of Epistles. They were all dated in 1674, but were first 
printed in 1792. Vide Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society: Vol. I., 
pp. 141 et scq. 



was published in the second vohime of Transactions of this 
Society. ' From the office of captain he was promoted to 
be major-general in the service of the colony. 

Only second to Gookin in his services to the new planta- 
tion was Capt. Daniel Henchman. He had been most 
active in the war of defence and offence against the Indi- 
ans, and at the close of the war entered with zeal upon the 
work of establishing the " Plantation at Quinsigamond," as 
the settlement was first called from the name of the beauti- 
ful lake upon its eastern boundary. Capt. Henchman "was 
a cousin of Judge Samuel Sewall, and allied by family ties 
to the Hulls, Gookins, Quincys and Eliots." His holdings 
of land were very extensive. His homestead estate was on 
both sides of "the country road"^ at the north entrance to 
the villao-e. There he erected a house in 1683. At his 
death a portion of the land passed to his son Nathaniel, 
and later to Gov. John Hancock. A part of this farm Avas 
subse(iuently conveyed to " the first Levi Lincoln " as he is 
called at Worcester, father of Gov. Lincoln, and a part to 
Samuel and Stephen Salisbury, the last named being the 
grandfather of our President. 

The other two members of the first committee to have 
charge of the settlement, Capt. Thomas Prentice of Wol)urn 
and Lieut. Richard Beers of Watertown, were also distin- 
guished for military prowess and for valuable services in 
civil life. 

It would be out of place in an essay like this to bring in 
all the names of the brilliant and famous men who came to 
Worcester in the early years following its final settlement 
in the year 1713. The village had been twice al)andoned 
because of the overwhelming attacks of hostile Indians. It 
must be only in connection with the histor}^ of our real 
estate that we mention the names of the Chandlers, Lin- 



' Archaeologia Americana, Vol. II., pp. 423 et seq. 
• Lincoln Street. 



coins, Pain es, Waldos, Salisbuiys and other families, without 
stopping to pay tribute to their virtues and great merits. 

On Feb. 23, 1737-8, Thomas Palmer, an original pro- 
prietor,^ conveyed to John Chandler, jr., "81 acres on 
which is a mansion house and barn, of which 44 acres is 
second division land, IG acres on Goulding's right and 21 
third division on Wing's right." This John Chandler, jr., 
Avas the third John Chandler, and the second of the name 
to wear the ermine in Worcester County. He was the grand- 
father of Lucretia Chandler Bancroft, whose remarkable 
and beautiful letter to her daughter was printed in the last 
number of our Proceedings (pp. 125 et seq.) acconi])anied 
by biographical and historical sketches hy her grandsons, 
Horace and Andrew McFarland Davis. ^ This estate, 
with large additions acquired by later purchases, passing 
to the last John Chandler, "the honest Refugee," was 
called " the down town farm " and was a part of the dower set 
off to his wife after his flioht to Eno-land. Mrs. Chandler 
died in 1783. The Legislature, by a Resolve passed June 
23, 1785, granted the dower estate in fee to her seven 
youngest children. Charles, the oldest of these, and 
Samuel, who was next to him, bought out the rights of the 
other five, in the "several messuages, tracts and parsels," 
paying £320 for each right. 

At this point we must digress for a moment to bring in 
some account of an oroanization which has been a near 



' The I'roprietors' Records of Worcester cover the period from 16C7 to 1783, witli a 
hiatus from 1686 to 1713. A copy was made in 1856 by Mr. Frank W. Bigelow [H. 
U. 1854], who was then a law student in the office of Hon. Charles Allen. A more 
complete copy was subsequently made by Mr. Franklin P. Rice, a local antiquary, 
and was published by the Worcester Society of Antiquity in 1881, with an introduc- 
tion and valuable notes by Mr. Rice. 

- See also the interesting communications from Mr. Andiiew McFarland Davis 
in April, 1901, number of the Proceedings of our Society. 

The last Judge John Chandler had seventeen children, of whom four were by his 
tirst wife Dorothy Paine, and thirteen by his second wife Mary Church. Mr. J. 
Peale Dabney ( in the Christian Examiner, July, 18-17, ) said of him : 

" The Hon. John Chandler of Worcester, whose sons and daughters were as 
numerous as those of his Royal Master,— and with whose family every other lead- 
ing family of the region was proud to entwine itself by marriage alliance,— sleeps 
far from the town and sliire of whose honors he had almost the monopoly." 




FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH, 
Slimmer Street. 



neiolibor of this Society in both of its locations. The 
Rev. Aaron Bancroft, a native of Reading, had supplied 
the pulpit of the parish church of the toAvn for several 
Sundays in the autunni of 1783, and again a year later, 
and was engaged temporarily to preach in January, 1785. 
At a parish or town meeting in March of that yonv, a 
motion was made to settle him i)ermanently over the parish, 
l)ut it was defeated because of his Arminian views. A 
large majority, including the most prominent meml^ers, 
withdrew and formed a new society with Mr. Bancroft as 
their minister. After a very strong op})osition an Act of 
the Legislature was secured in November, 1787, o-lvino; 
them a separate existence and organization, and the society 
has since been legally known as Worcester Second Parish.^ 
For about five years services were held in the Court House. 
In the summer of 1791 a churcli building was begun upon 
land bought of Cliarles and Samuel Chandler, part of " the 
down town farm " before described. These gentlemen con- 
veyed the lot to the Parish on June l(i, 1791, for the 
nominal consideration of five shillings, and the first ser- 
vices were held in the church on Jan. 1, 1792. In 1828 
the society built a new and more commodious church on 
land bought of Isaiah Thomas, a few rods south of our 
present hall, and sold the old building, which was at once 
converted into a tavern, to Samuel Damon. ^ There was 
some dispute about the boundary between the Society's 
land and the church lot, and Mr. Damon gave a deed of 

' Sixty-three gentlemen were included in the Act of Incorporation. Among them 
were Levi Lincoln [Senior], Timothy Paine, Joseph Allen, Thaddeus Maccarty 
■{M. i).], Samuel Chandler, Abraham Lincoln, Timothy Bigelow, Clark Chandler, 
Samuel Allen, Edward Bangs, Nathaniel Taiiie, Isaiah Thomas, Charles Chandler, 
David Clap, William Jennison and Benjamin Butman. 

The reader is referred to the interesting and exhaustive paper, " Gleanings from 
the Sources of the History of the Second Parish, Worcester, Massachusetts," by 
Samuel S. Green, printed in Vol. II. new series of I'roceedings of this Society, 
pp. 301 et seq. 

- The tavern was maintained for several years. The estate was conveyed to the 
lnhal)itants of Worcester on May 8, 184G [B. 419, P. 437], and the building, originally 
a cliurch, was changed again to a school-house. It was used for the latter purpose 
some forty years. In March, 1892, the proi)erty was sold by the city [B. 1374, 1'. 4G9], 
and passed from public use. 



quitclaim, which led the Council, on Nov. 28, 1832, to 
pass the following vote : — 

"That Col. Samuel Damon of Holden, in consideration 
of his conveying to the Society all his right and title to 
any land now included within the wall of the yard of 
Antiquarian Hall, shall, with his immediate family, have 
the privilege of visiting Antiquarian Hall at all hours 
when the Hall is kept open for visitors." 

Charles and Samuel Chandler owned other real estate in 
comnu)n, and at the former's death in 1798 a partition 
took place, the "down town farm" going to Samuel, while 
Sarah, the minor daughter of Charles, l)ecauie the owner 
of a larger estate lying southwesterly of the village. 
After Samuel's death, or on May 9, 1814, his executors, 
Aaron Bancroft and Benjamin Smith, conveyed the greater 
part of the down-town farm to Francis Blake [April 27, 
1814; Book 192, Page 231]; and on May 9 following 
sold to Isaiah Thomas, father of the American Antiquarian 
Society, one-half acre lying just north of the church. 

Here Avas to be our first permanent home. 

The first meeting of the Society, for organization, was 
held at the Exchange Coffee House in Boston, on Novem- 
ber 11, 1812.^ The AVorcester meeting in September, 
1813, was held at the dwelling-house of Col. Reuben Sikes, 
innholder ; in the following September, at the same place, 
then called the Worcester Coffee House ; in July, 1815, and 
June, 181(3, at the Library room, that is, in Mr. Thomas's 
spacious mansion. On June 2(), 1817, "that part of the 
ways and means committee residing in Worcester made a 
report that it is expedient that a subscription be opened to 
procure a sum in order to enable the Society to build a 
suitable edifice for the Library and Cabinet ; and to elect 
a proper person to apply to the members in the United 
States for the purpose ; and that the person be furnished 
with $500 to enable him to proceed in the mission." 

1 See a paper on The Boston Meetings of the American Antiquarian Society : by 
Charles A. Chase. Vol. XIII., New Series Proceedings, page 31. 







r^/ 



9 

On Auij:. lo, I'SlD, it was "Voted that at the rerjuest 
of the President a committee be appointed to superintend 
the building now erecting by him for the use of the 
Society. 

"Levi Lincohi, Nathaniel Maccarty and Kejoice Newton 
chosen." 

On Oct. 23, 1819, at Foster's Hotel in Boston, a ctmi- 
mittee, appointed to investigate and report on the general 
progress and state of the Society, made a long report, in 
which they say : — 

Within the last year our venerable and enterprising 
President,^ in praise of whose munificence too much can- 
not be said, has erected at great expense a handsome, 
commodious and substantial building for the use and 
benefit of the Society ; and it will prol)al)ly be ready for 
the reception of the library and cabinet at some time 
during the next season. It is sufficiently large to answer 
all the [)urposes of the Society for many years, and is so 
constructed that whenever more room shall l)e wanted ad- 
ditions may be made without disfiguring but Avould rather 
increase the elegance of the edifice. * 

This building, which was of brick with a classic front, 
was formally opened on Aug. 24, 1820, "with public ser- 
vices in the Rev. Doctor Bancroft's Meetinjj: House " on 
the neighboring lot. A formal address was delivered by 
Isaac Goodwin, Esq. Mr. Goodwin, who is most widely 
known as author of " Goodwin's Town Officer" [Worces- 
ter, 1825,] and "The New England Sheriff" [Worcester, 
18oO,J a native of Plymouth, was at this time a resident 
of Sterling, from which place he removed to Worcester in 
1826. In his address, which Avas published by the Societj^ 
he dwelt upon the importance of preserving the annals of 
the human race, and congratulated the citizens of the 
county upon the event of the day. 



' Mr. Thomas was then in the 71st year of liis age. For the latest contribution to 
the Isaiah Thomas literature see an article by our associate, Benjamin Thomas Hill, 
in " The Worcester Magazine" for July, 1901. Published by the Board of Trade, 
Worcester, Mass. 



10 

Hardly ten years passed before the " commodions " 
building proved to be too small for its purpose. For at 
the semi-annual meeting- on June 30, 1831, a committee 
appointed by the Sub-Council reported, recommending 
" the erection of two wings as soon as may be convenient ; 
each win<»: to be 25 feet lonai; and 20 deep, two stories hiijh 
and covered with slate or zinc. One of the wings to have 
the floors covered with stone or brick, and to comiect with 
the main building by means of an iron door. The expense 
will not exceed, we think, |l,-200." 

While the Society had enjoyed the full use of the build- 
ing as their own, no deed had ever passed from Mr. 
Thomas. At his death, which occurred April 4, 1831, his 
will, Avhich was very voluminous, gave the Society a be- 
quest of $30,000, followed Iw this clause : — 

I give to said Society, (provided I shall not before 
my death execute a deed thereof, ) and their successors for- 
ever, that tract of land in Worcester whereon is now 
erected a building for the use of said Society, which land 
I purchai-lbd of Samuel Chandler's heirs, containing about 
one acre near the Second Parish, with the said building 
thereon ; which building is to be forever sacredly appro- 
priated as long as said Society shall exist, for the lil)rarv, 
cabinet, &c. of said Society ; and the house and building 
are accordingly devised upon this express condition. And 
in case said Society shall at any time cease to use said 
building for said purpose, then the whole of this estate is 
to revert to my grandchildren generally and their heirs. 

Mr. Thomas, in his will, further declared that he valued 
this real estate at $8,000. He left to the Society $10,000 
in books from his private collection, and $12,000 in money 
to make up the whole legacy of $30,000. 

After thirtv^ years the Library building, Avith its wings, 
Avas all too small for its purpose ; and at the annual meet- 
ing, October 23, 1850, it was "Voted that a committee be 
appointed to consider that part of the report of the Coun- 
cil which relates to repairs and alterations of the Library 



11 

liuilding and to the erection of a new buildini*- on some 
other .site ; and the said committee, if they shall deem it 
expedient may, with the concurrence of the Council, pur- 
chase a suitable lot for the purpose last mentioned." Hon. 
Charles Allen, Hon. Isaac Davis and Hon. Stephen Salis- 
bury were appointed as the committee. 

At a meeting of the Council, on December 2(5, 1850, 
the Hon. Isaac Davis, from the Connnittee appointed at 
the annual meeting- of the Society " to consider that ))art 
of the Report submitted by the Council vvdiich relates to 
repairs and alterations of the Library buildings, and to the 
erection of a new building on some other site," made an 
informal report. 

In the absence of the Chairman, Hon. Charles Allen, 
it was stated that the Committee had examined several 
lots, and had ol)tained their prices, viz : — a lot on Park 
Street owned by Mr. Adolphus Morse, the price of which 
was $o,;")0(), a lot on Front Street owned by Hon. Abijah 
Bigelow, the price of which was 14,500, a lot on Main 
Street known as the "Dix Place," owned by Mr. Henry 
Goulding, the ])rice of which was $10,000, and a lot next 
north of the old Court House, on Main Street, owned by 
Hon. Stej)hen Salisl)ury, which Mr. Salisbury proposed to 
convey gratuitously to the Society, provided the Society 
was satisfied that the location was favorable for their pur- 
poses. 

The Committee and the Council having concuri'ed in 
the opinion that the lot last mentioiied possessed very 
decided advantages for the location of the Library build- 
ing, and under all circumstances regarding 1)oth conven- 
ience and safety, was the most favorable for that pur})ose 
— and that the liberal proposition of Mr. Salisl)ury should 
be thankfully accepted, it was 

Voted, That a committee should be a])pointed to pro- 
cure plans and specifications for a suitable edifice to ])e 
erected on the land proposed to be conveyed by Mr. Salis- 
bury. 

Voted, That Hon. Isaac Davis, Hon. Stephen Salis- 
bury, Hon. Alfred D. Foster, constitute said committee. 



12 

At the next meeting of the Council, on motion of Hon. 
Emorv Washburn, it was 

Voted, That upon the representation of a member of 
the committee appointed b}^ the Society to act upon the 
subject of purchasing a lot for the erection of a new 
Lil)rar3^ l)uil(ling, that the Hon. Stephen Salisbury is will- 
ing to execute a deed of a lot near the Court House for 
that purpose, the Council here])y concur in the selection of 
said lot, if the committee shall see fit to procure the same, 
and recommend to said committee that they acce})t a deed 
thereof, as being in the judgment of the Council a suitable 
lot for the erection of such a building. 

Voted, That the committee ajipointed at the last meet- 
ing to procure plans for a suitable edifice to be erected on 
the land proposed to be conveyed l^y Mr. Salisbury, be 
directed to procure plans with reference to a building, not 
to exceed ten thousand dollars, exclusive of the expense of 
prei)aring the site for the building. 

At the semi-annual meeting, April 30, 1851, it was voted : 
"That the thanks of the Society be presented to Hon. 
Stephen Salisbury, for his munificent donation of a valua- 
ble lot for a new library building." And it was further 
voted : " That the whole subject of erecting a new li))rary 
building, and the disposal of the old building and land, be 
submitted to the discretion of the Council, with full i)ower 
to sell the old building and land, and erect a new one as 
they may think proper." 

On February 25, 1852, it was 

Voted, That the Council of the American Anti(iuarian 
Society have a grateful sense of the kindness, liberality 
and public spirit shown l)y the Hon. Stephen Salisbury, as 
well in the gift of a valuable site for the new Hall as in 
the generous offer of the sum of five thousand dollars to 
aid in its construction ; that accepting in l)ehalf of the 
Society the offer so made, tiiey readily consent to the use 
of the lower room for a library for the period indicated in 
his communication of January 21st. by such persons, and 
under such regulations as u})on a conference witli Mr. 
Salisburj^ may be thought consistent Avith the convenience 
of the Society and the safety of its collections. 



13 

On April 30, 1851, the Society had given the Council full 
power to sell the old building and erect a new one. The 
following minute is from the record of a Council meeting- 
held on July 1, 1854:— 

Pursuant to votes of the Societ}^ authorizing the sale of 
the Society's estate on the east side of Summer street, in 
Worcester, formerly occupied by the Society, and upon 
the proposition of the Hon. Isaac Davis in Ijehalf of the 
Trustees of the Worcester Academy to purchase the same : 

Voted, That the same l)e sold to said Trustees for the 
sum of nine thousand dollars, and that the west line be 
defined in such manner and by such courses, as to include 
within the boundaries the (j^uantity of twenty-seven thou- 
sand feet of land, with a free and unol)structed right of 
l)assage to the grantees and their assigns from every part 
of the said west line, so to be defined over the remaining 
land of the Society which will lay between the said line 
and the east line of Siuumer street, as established by the 
County Commissioners, and upon the terms of payment 
of 1,000 dollars on the delivery of the deed, and the 
security of a mortgage on the estate for the paj^ment of 
4,000 dollars in one year, and 4,000 dollars in two years 
with interest semi-annually ; and that the deed of convey- 
ance be executed pursuant to the vote of the Society at 
the meeting held this day. 

We will follow the title of the Summer street lot until 
it left our hands. Mr. Thomas's will had provided that if 
at any time it should cease to be occupied for the uses of 
the Society it should revert to his grandchildren. The 
Society, therefore, could not sell it without first obtaining 
an al)solute title. I find no additional vote or authority in 
the matter, ))ut it is evident that measures had been taken 
to secure a full title l)efore the vote was passed to sell, 
for I find upon record ({uitclaim deeds from the heirs of 
Mr. Thomas, of " all our riglit, title, claim and demand in 
and unto a certain tract of land with the building thereon 
on Sunmier street in said Worcester, now occupied by 
said Society for their library and cabinet." The consid- 
eration in each deed was $1 ; and the grantors may Ije 



14 

supposed to include all the grandchildren or their repre- 
sentatives. 

Samuel Damon, who had become the owner of the 
church lot, had deeded to the Society a triangular piece of 
three scjuare rods adjoining our southeast corner, as above 
stated. At a special meeting of the Society on July 1, 
1854, it was 

Voted, that the Hon. Stephen Salisl)ury, Vice President 
of the Society, be authorized and empowered to convey 
the estate on the east side of Summer street in Worcester, 
formerly occupied by the Society to such person or cor- 
poration and upon such terms and conditions as the Coun- 
cil shall prescribe. 

On July 4, 1854, the Society deeded to Worcester 
Academy the Summer Street lot for $9,000. "^ 

It is worthy of notice here that the two sites which the 
Society has occupied are in what was the business centre 
of the village of Worcester. There were the Court House, 
the Jail, and the first school-house. There were the 
dwelling-house and the blacksmith shop of Col. Timothy 
Bigelow, who led the minute-men from the town on the 
lllth of April, 1775, and who did valiant service through 
the Revolution. There was the first apothecary sho}) in 
the county, established in 1731 by Dr. William Paine and 
afterwards sold to Dr. Abraham Lincoln, brother of the 
first Levi Lincoln and son-in-law of Col. Bigelow. There, 
after 1771, on land bought of John Hancock,' was the 
colonial mansion, still standing, of the first Stephen 
Salisbury. The little school-house, 24 feet long, 1(5 feet 
wide and 7 feet stud, "completely finished with a good 
chimney, glase and that," was l)uilt under a vote of the 
town passed on June 21, 1738. It stood nearly in front 
of our present building, on land which is now a part of 
the public highway. In this building a young man, freshly 

'John Hancock to Stephen Salisbury. 150 acres set off to Joseph and Daniel 
Waldo as part of their father Cornelius's estate. Nov. 5, 1771. Book G«, page 193 in 
Worcester Registry. For Cornelius Waldo's title see Middlesex Registry, B. 27, p. 
17, et scq. : part of John Wing farm. 




NORTH PART OF MAIN STREET, WORCESTER, I82i). 

The triangular lot at the foot of Main street was probably the site of the first School House. The present site 
of Antiquarian Hall is to the left, and marked "Clark Whittemore." Highland street was "accepted " 
The site of the ttrst Antiquarian Hall is at the northeast corner of the map. 



Antiqua 

in 1835. 



Where two or more names are given the lower name indicates the owner. 



15 

o^raduated from Harvard College, tauijht Latin and the 
higher l)ranches of English from 1755 to 1758. For a 
profession he had at first inclined to the ministr}^ ; but 
after a year he decided upon the law, and took up its 
study under the direction of James Putnam, who is charac- 
terized by Willard as " the seventh in point of time but 
perhaps the first in distinction" [?'. e., of the members of 
the Worcester Bar.]' This young teacher and student 
became the second president of the United States. 
The first entry in his published Diarj^ describes the cir- 
cumstances which brought him to Worcester, and the 
entries for the three years following give a very graphic 
descri})tion of the society^ of the toAvn and its intellectual 
activity. 

Westerly from, and facing " the down town farm " of 
Col. Chandler Avas the large estate of William Jennison, 
who came to Worcester soon after the final settlement of 
the town. His brother vSamuel, who came with him, was 
the ancestor of the Samuel Jennison who was Librarian 
and Treasurer of this Society. 

William Jennison sold to the town the lot on which 
had been built the first school-house, with twenty feet 
around it, on Nov. 27, 1738.^ He had previously given 
to the County of Worcester^ a lot just south of our present 
lot, on which a Court House of wood, 36 feet long, 2(5 
feet wide, with 13 feet posts, was built and was first occu- 
pied by the courts on Feb. 8, 1734, when the Chief 
Justice, John Chandler of Woodstock, grandfather of 
"the honest refugee" of whom 1 have spoken, delivered a 
congratulatory address. 

After the death (in 1744) of William Jennison, his 
daughter Abigail Baldwin with her husband William con- 
veyed one (juarter of the Jennison estate to Luke Brown, 



1 Address to the Members of the Bar of AVorcester County, Massacliusetts, Oct. '^, 
1829, by Joseph Willard. p. 58. 
- Book 10, p. 302, Worcester Rejiistry. 
= Feb, 1, 1731-2; Book 3, p. 57. 



16 

■son-in-law of William Jennison, and landlord of the " Han- 
cock Arms." A part of this tract, including part of the 
present site of Antiquarian Hall, was sold to Isaiah 
Thomas by Luke Brown's executor ; and a tract of about 
nine acres, lying north and in the rear of the Thomas 
purchase, was sold by Luke Brown's grandson Luke to 
Samuel and Stephen Salisbury. Samuel Salisbury conveyed 
the tract to Stephen, Oct. 22, 1812, and it was inherited 
by the latter's son vStephen, our grantor and benefactor. 

Mr. Thomas sold to Clark Whittemore a lot north of the 
Court House and on the west side of Main street, 100 feet 
deep, about 32 feet in front and about 36 feet in the rear. 
Whittemore sold to Stephen Salisbury, March 22, 1833. 
A new road leading westerly had been laid out a year or 
two before, leaving a strip of land between the road antl 
the Whittemore lot, and when Mr. Salisbury conveyed to 
the Society he gave a lot bounding northerly on Highland 
street 121 feet and 7 inches, easterly on Main street 70 
feet and 8 inches, southerly on a line 24 feet from the 
stone underpinning of the Brick Court House 118 feet and 
3 inches, and westerh^ by a line running N. 23<i° E. 51 
feet and 8 inches. This deed was given " in consideration 
of my desire to aid in increasing the efficiency of a useful 
Society, and in consideration of one dollar to me paid 
by the American Antiquarian Society." It was accom- 
panied by a gift of $5,000 in money. 

On the Jennison land, just south of the court house, 
Mr. Thomas built a statelv dwelling-house. A buildino- 
containing his printing office and book store was near by. 
On June 26, 1843, Daniel Waldo conveyed the house lot, 
192 feet on the street and about 200 feet deep to the 
County of Worcester by a deed of quitclaim ;' and on 
Aug. 10, Rejoice Newton and Rebecca Newton quitclaimed 
the same property to the County.'-' The mansion house 



' K. 380, p. 472. -'/^irf.,!). 401. 



3 


O 
< 


n 


'y. 


'-i 


o 



t o 




17 

was removed to the rear, where it still may be seen, un- 
changed in outward appearance except some alteration of 
the south wing. 

We have seen that Mr. Salisbury's deed to the Society 
left an open space of twenty-four feet north of the old 
Court House. It was evidently understood with the 
County Commissioners that this space should be forever 
kept open. The county having become owner of land in 
rear of the Hall, conveyed to the Society, July 20, 1867,^ 
a lot 50 feet wide on Highland street, the south line being 
an extension of a line running parallel with and 12 feet 
from the south side of the Hall, excepting and reserving to 
the grantors a right to a passage wa}' along the entire 
south and west lines of the tract above described and a 
right to have said 12 feet forever ojien and granting to 
said Society a right of passage way. 

It was not many j^ears after the new Hall was built that 
this also was found too small for the Society's needs. The 
following letter, addressed to the Council, shows how the 
emergency was met l)y our President and benefactor : — 

Worcester, June 2o, 1867. 

To the Council of the American Antiquarian Society : 

The increase of the Library of our Society has attracted the 
attention of its members and friends to the necessity of securing a 
provision for the sufficient enlargement* of the Hall. The claims 
of the Publishing Fund to be made adequate to the demand result- 
ing from the unprinted materials for History in the possession of 
the Society, and offered from time to time, which have been urged 
in the Reports, may be postponed in a confident expectation that 
their attractive character will ensure for them the moderate pro- 
vision which is required. But it is impossible to disregard the 
necessity of securing a safe and acceptable accommodation for the 
addition of books, which the continued liberality of friends as well 
as members of the Society will soon make too numerous for con- 
venient consultation in our Hall. This is very apparent in the 

« B. 749, p. 365, 



18 

department of the fugitive and characteristic literature of the pass- 
ing day : the Pamphlets and Newspapers, of which a large mass 
unbound is on hand. Our treasury of 1900 bound volumes of 
newspapers may be greatly enlarged by binding other volumes, 
which have been kept unbound as long as is expedient, to take ad- 
vantage of the opportunities of making them more complete. A 
perfect series of a newspaper is a rarity in any library. 

As I have heretofore received your approbation of the proposal 
to take advantage of the willingness of the Honorable County 
Commissioners of the County of Worcester to convey to this So- 
ciety so much of land recently purchased and not needed for the 
use of the County, as is well situated and suited for our purposes, 
I was not willing to neglect an opportunity which may not again 
occur. I have obtained, and now offer to the Society, a deed of 
conveyance of a quadrangle of land adjoining the west side of the 
lot of Antiquarian Hall, being of the same width as that west side 
on the line of junction, and containing 1 782 square feet ; and that 
quadrangle is bounded on the North by a street 50 feet wide, on 
the West by an open passage 24 feet wide, and on the south by an 
open space about 23 feet wide, which open space separates the lot 
purchased from the Brick County Court House, — twelve feet of 
the width of the open passage and the open space being convey- 
ed to this Society. 

I also offer to this Society eight thousand ($8000) dollars, to be 
held and invested safely and productively as a Building Fund, un- 
til by the accumulation of income and otherwise, the Fund shall 
become sufficiently large to defray the expense of erecting the de- 
sirable addition to Antiquarian Hall. 

Very Respectfully Yours, 

STEPHEN SALISBURY. 

This "additional act of munificent liberality *' was grate- 
full}^ acknowledged by the Council and 1)}^ the Societ}.' 
In nine years the fund of $8000 had increased to $13,000, 
and a contract was made for the erection of the annex, 
which nearly or quite doubled the storage capacity of the 
building. 

The old Court House, the third in point of time, built in 



' See I'roceeilings at Annual Meeting, Oct. 21, 18G7. 



19 

1802, and enlaro-ed in 1857, and the elegant, classic stone 
Court House, built upon the Thomas estate in 1845 and 
enlai-o-ed in 1878, in time came to be considered too small 
for the convenience of the Courts and pulilic offices. 
About the year 1895 the County Commissioners were 
persuaded to undertake the work of enlarging or rebuild- 
ing, and an Act of the Legislature was secured ^ authoriz- 
in<>- them to make such addition, and by section 5 "to take 
and hold by purchase or otherwise such land, rights of 
way and easements as they may deem necessary," etc. 

The plans finally adopted by the Commissioners provided 
for an extension of the stone Court House northerly, to 
cover the land occupied by the brick Court House as well as 
the intervening land, and even to encroach upon the land 
or easements of the Antiijuarian Society. So a supple- 
mentary bill was passed by the Legislature in the next 
year,^ authorizing the Connnissioners "to sell, tear down 
or remove the brick Court House * * * and to erect 
on said land or on any part of the adjoining land a build- 
ing which shall provide additional acconmiodations for the 
several courts in said county sitting at AVorcester, and for 
the county offices and papers," etc. 

In the development and accomplishment of the plans of 
the County Commissioners they built nu^ch wider " than 
they knew " ; for they encroached not only upon our ease- 
ments but also upon our territory. But the new bounds 
have now been established by a plan and deeds of record, 
and it is hoped that it may be long before the Society shall 
again be disturl)ed in its real estate or its privileges and 
ap})urtcnances. 

County of Worcester to American Ayitiquarian Society. 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the County 
of Worcester, a body politic and corporate, within the Common- 
wealth of Massachusetts, in consideration of One Dollar and 
other valuable considerations to it paid by the American Anti- 

i Acts of 1890, chapter 350. -^ Ihid., 1897, chapter 449. 



20 

quarian Society, a Corporation duly established and exercising 
its franchise in the City and County of Worcester, and Common- 
wealth of Massachusetts, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowl- 
edged, doth hereby remise, release and forever quitclaim unto 
said American Antiquarian Society all its right, title and interest, 
if any, which the County Commissioners may be authorized and 
empowered by its agent to convey, to that parcel of land situated 
in said City of Worcester, lying northerly and easterly of the fol- 
lowing described lines, and extending to the southerly and west- 
erly walls of said Society's building. Said lines are located as 
follows : 

Beginning at a point on the southerly line of Highland street, 
which said point is one hundred and seventy-eight and ninety- 
six hundredths (178.96) feet easterly, measured on said southerly 
line of Highland street as now located from the lot line dividing 
land of Stephen Salisbury from land of G. Henry Whitcomb. 
Said point is also further defined by being directly opposite to a 
hole drilled in the top of a stone bound sunk into the sidewalk 
two feet N. 13° 40' E. from said point; thence from said point 
running S. 13° 40' W. said course being at a right angle to said 
line of Highland street, a distance of thirty-one and fifty-seven 
one hundredths (31. o7) feet, to the center^ of the upper end of an 
iron rod driven into the ground at an angle in said line ; thence S. 
17° 2' E. thirteen and seventy-three one hundredths ( 13.73) feet to 
the center of the upper end of an iron rod driven into the ground 
at an angle in said line; thence S. 57° 19' E. twenty-two and five 

tenths (22.o) a to the center of the upper end of an iron rod 

driven into the ground at an angle; thence S. (58° 12' E. one 
hundred and twenty-nine (129) feet to the center of a hole drilled 
in the top of a stone bound set into the ground ; thence easterly 
in the same straight line about five (5) feet, passing through the 
center of the large granite fence post to the westerly line of Main 
street ; said land lying northerly and easterly of said line to re- 
main unobstructed by any building or additions to the present 
Antiquarian building, or any fences or structure except as at 
present existing, together with the right in said Society of access 
to the bulk head of its building over the adjoining land of said 
County. Said lines are further illustrated by a plan made liy 
Civil Engineers, Buttrick & Pratt, dated September, 1900, and to 
be entered for record with this deed. 

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the granted premises, to the 
said American Antiquarian Society and its successors and assigns, 
to its and their use and behoof forever. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF on this 28th day of February, 
1901, said County of Worcester has caused its corporate seal to 
be hereto affixed, and these presents to be signed and sealed in 

I Sic. 



County land 



3/57 IRON FENCE 




PLAN SHOWING 
ADJUSTMENT OF LOT 
LINES between Land 
oF AMERICAN AIMTIQUA-/'V 
-RIAN SOCIETYand "'°'^''°°, 
THE WORCESTER 
COUNTY COURT HOUS 
GROUNDS 

September 1900. 



BuffrickU Pratt 

Ovil En^insers 

State JHutual Building 

Worces ter, Mass. I p) 



County Land 



A/o^e Courses are by 
Magr/efic Meridian . 



MAIM 

index Pub/'shin^ Co. Del 



3T. 



Plan of Lands of County of Wokoestek and American Antiquarian Societv 
On Court Hill, Worcester, Mass., Prior to September 8, 1896. 



ST. 




Buff nek arydProff, 6m7 fnfh 
70s-6Statefi/futija/Bi^ilcf//7< a , rnm • , 

ffVorcesfer, Mass Ocafe 6 u ft TO an men 



21 

its name and bebalf, by its agent, William T. Harlow, appointed 
by an order dated the 26th day of February, 1901, passed by the 
County Commissioners for said County, and duly entered on their 

records. 

THE COUNTY OF WORCESTER [seal] 
By William T. Harlow, Agent. 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
Worcester, ss. March 29th, 1901. Then personally appeared 
the above named William T. Harlow and acknowledged the fore- 
going instrument to be the free act and deed of the County of 
Worcester, and his own free act and deed as agent, before me, 

T. S. Johnson, Justice of the Peace, 

Rec'd March 29, 1901, at 4h. 17m. P. M. Ent'd & Ex'd, 

Attest: 

Dan'l Kent 

Register, 



Worcester, ss, A true copy of Record, recorded with Worcester 
District Deeds, Book 1680, Page 574. 

Attest : 

rSgd.) Dan'l Kent 

Register, 

American Antiqaarian Sodety to County of Worcester. 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the 
American Anti(,)UARiax Society, a Corporation existing and 
located in the City and County of Worcester and Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts, in consideration of One Dollar paid, and cer- 
tain acts and things done, by the County of Worcester, a body 
politic and corporate in and of said Commonwealth, doth remise, 
release and forever quitclaim unto said County of Worcester 
all the right, title and interest of said American Antiquarian 
Society inland unto that portion of the land of said Society which 
is covered by the building, foundations and projections of the 
Court House recently erected by the County Commissioners of 
said County of Worcester upon said County's real estate, on the 
westerly side of Main street in said City of Worcester, which 
building, foundations and projections were by inadvertence and 
mistake extended upon and over said land of said American 
Anti(iuarian Society lying outside and adjoining on the north the 
land of said County described in the description of its taking, 
dated September 8, 1896, and recorded with Worcester District 
Deeds, Vol. 1520, Page 1. 

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the granted premises with the 
privileges and appurtenances there_ belonging, to said County of 



99 



Worcester, its successors and assigns, to its and their own use 
and behoof forever. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the said American Antiquarian 
Society, by Stephen Salisbury, its President and Nathaniel Paine, 
its Treasurer thereto duly authorized, doth set its hand and seal 
this 28th day of February, in the year 1901. 

THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY [seal] 

By Stephen Salisbury, President 
Nath'l Paine, Treasurer. 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

Worcester, ss. March 29th, 1901. Then personally appeared 
the above named Stephen Salisbury in behalf of said American 
Antiquarian Society, and acknowledged the foregoing instrument 
to be the free act and deed of said Society, before me, 

T. S. Johnson, Justice of the Peace. 

Rec'd March 29, 1901, at 4h. 31m. P. M. Ent'd & Ex'd. 

Attest : 

Dan'l Kent, 

Register. 



Worcester, ss. A true copy of Record, recorded with Worcester 
District Deeds, Book 1680, Page 576. 

Attest : 

(Sgd.) Dan'l Kent 

Resister. 



ABSTRACT OF TITLES. 

Indian Tribes of Paliachosje and Tataessit Ijy John, alias Hoorawan- 
ponit or Quignonassett, Sagamore of Palvachoge, and Solomon, alias 
Woonaskochu, Sagamore of Tataessit, to Daniel Gookin, Senr., and the 
rest of the Genii. Courts Committee. .Jnly 13, 1674. With Middlesex 
Deeds. Book 8, Page 317. 

Heirs of Pannasunet, another Sagamore [probably owning Wigwam 
Hill and neighborhood], to same grantees. Dec. 6, 1677. Mid'x Book 
8, Page 318. 

THE SUMMKK STRKKT LOT. 

Proprietors of Worcester to Messrs. Palmer, Oultou and Waldo. 
April 5, 1719. Proprietors' Recoi'ds, Page 123. 

Partition of lands owned in common by Thomas Palmer, Cornelius 
Waldo and John Oulton. Jan. 31, 1727. Book 27, Pages 14 to 66, Mid- 
dlesex Registry. Palmer receives with other tracts, 51 acres bounded 
North by heirs of Daniel Henchman, East by Richard Wheeler, South 
by Wheeler and WilUam Jennison, West by Mill Brook. 



28 

Thomas Palmer to John Chandler, jr.,' Feb. 23, 1737-8. Bk. 8, P. 538.^ 

John Chandler by will three-tlfths to his son John and two-fifths to 
his son Gardiner. Probate Records of Supreme Court of Probate. 
With Suffolk Court Records, Vol. I. 

Sarah Chandler, widow, release of dower to John Chandler and 
Gardiner Chandler, Sept. 10, 1762. B. 55, P. 206. 

Gardiner Chandler to John Chandler, two-fifths, April i, 1763. B. 55, 
P. 213. 

State of Massachusetts to sundry persons ; dower. Chap. 40, Province 
Laws of 1778-79.^ 

Judjje of Probate to Mary Chandler : dower, Feb. 8, 1780. 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Charles Chandler, Samuel 
Chandler, Sarah Stanton, Mary Sever, Lucretia, Thomas and Elizabeth 
Chandler : Fee.^ 

Aaron and Lucretia Bancroft to Charles and Samuel Chandler. Nov. 
20, 1789. B. 108, P. 295. 

John and Sarah Stanton to Same. Jan. 27, 1789. B. 108, P. 297. 

Thomas Chandler to Same. Dec. 24, 1789. B. 108, P." 297. 

William and Mary Sever to Same. Jan. 27, 1790. B. 108, P. 298. 

Ebenezer and Elizabeth Pntnam to Same. July 10, 1794. B. 122, P. 617. 



1 This is the second of the three John Chandlers who held the Judicial and other 
offices in Worcester County; the father of " the honest Refugee." 

The will of the first John Chandler was probated in the Probate Court of this 
county. The second John Chandler died on Aug. 7, 1762, and it was apparently 
more convenient and expeditious to take his will into the Supreme Court of 
Probate, consisting of the Governor and Executive Council. The will, dated Nov. 
10, 1759, with codicil dated March 10, 1761, was approved and allowed Sept. 15, 1762. 
The two sons, John and Gardiner, were executors, and with Timothy Ruggles of 
Hardwick as surety, gave a bond for £3000. 

= The references, unless otherwise stated, are to the Records in the Registry of 
Deeds for Worcester County. 

3 "An Act for confiscating the estates of certain persons commonly called 
Absentees." Pronouncing them aliens,— their estates to enure and accrue to the 
full use of the government and people of this State. Section 9 of this Act is as 
follows : — 

"That where the wife, or widow, of any of the persons afore described, 
shall have remained within the jurisdiction of any of the said United States, and 
in part [s] under the actual authority thereof, she shall be entitled to the improve- 
ment and income of one-third part of her husband's real and personal estate (after 
payment of debts), during her life and (continuance within the said United States; 
and her dower therein shall be set olf to her, by the Judges of Probate of wills, in 
like manner as it might have been if her husband had died, intestate, within the 
jurisdiction of this State." 

Benjamin Flagg, Nathan Perry and Sam. Miller, a committee appointed by Hon. 
Levi Lincoln, Esq., Judge of Probate for Worcester County, to appraise the Real 
Estate of John Chandler, jr., made a return fixing the whole value of such estate at 
£76,515. One third thereof, including "the down town farm," valued at £25,505, 
was set off as dower by the Judge of I'robate, Feb. 8, 1780. Mary Chandler and 
Joseph Allen the State's agent " on the estate of John Chandler an absentee " as- 
sented in writing. 

* Declaring them to be seized and i)ossessed in fee simple and as tenants in com- 
mon of all that part of their father's estate which was assigned and set off to their 
mother for her thirds, except that part which was set off by the Legislature for a 
Goal. Resolve : Chap. 47, May Session, 1786. 



24 

Partition of Land owned in common by Samuel Chandler and Sarah, 
infant daughter of Charles Chandler, deceased, in which the "down 
town farm" of 203 acres is set oft* to Samuel. July 6, 1798. B. 186, P.H30. 

Aaron B. Smith and Benjamin Smith, executors of the last will of Sam- 
uel Chandler to Isaiah Thomas (for $500), lot bounded South by Second 
Parish, West by new road so called [Summer street], North by the 
Worcester [Boston] Turnpike, East by land sold to Francis Blake. 
May 9, 1814. Book 190, Page 588. 

Isaiah Thomas, by his last will, probated May 3, 1881, to American 
Antiquarian Society, to revert to his grandchildren generally and their 
heirs in case the Society should cease to use it for the library, cabinet, 
&c. In Worcester County Probate Registry. 

Wm. A. Crocker and Frances C, his wife, quitclaim to American 
Antiquarian Society. July 30, 1849. Book 457, Page 493. 

Samuel L. Crocker and Caroline, his wife, to Same. Nov. 18, 1848. B. 457, P. 494. 

William Jennison to Same. Nov. 5, 1849. B. 457, P. 494. 

Pliny Merrick and Mary R., his wife, to Same. Aug-. 9, 1845. B. 457, P. 495. 
Abraham G. Randall and Elizabeth C, his wife, to Same. Sept. 22, 1849. B. 457, P. 496. 

Albert Ci. Tarleton and Mary T., his wife, to Same. Oct. 29, 1849. B. 457, P. 496. 

Edward I.Thomas, of New York city, to Same. Aug. 9, 1845. B. 4.57, P. 497. 

Isaiah Thomas, of Springfield, O., to Same. Aug. 17, 1849. B. 4.57, P. 498. 

Benjamin F. Thomas to Same. Aug. 9, 1845. B. 457, P. 498. 

Moses Thomas, of Concord, N. H., to Same. Aug. 22, 1845. B. 457, P. 499. 

William Thomas to Same. Nov. 17, 1848. B. 4.57, P. 499. 

William S. and Almira L. Worthington to Same. Dec. 17, 1849. B. 457, P. 500. 

Isaiah T. Williams to Same. Dec. 26, 1849. B. 457, P. 501. 

Gideon D. Williams to Same. Dec. 26, 1849. B. 457, P. 501. 



Charles and Samuel Chandler to the Second Parish, &c. June 16, 
1791. Book 140, Page 440. 

Executors of Will of Samuel Chandler to Francis Blake. April 27, 
1814. Book 192, Page 231. 

Francis Blake to Second Parish. July 12, 1815. Book 197, Page 420. 

Worcester Second Parish to Samuel Damon. May 29, 1830. Book 277, 
Page 119. 

Samuel Damon (triangular piece) to American Antiquarian Society. 
Dec. 26, 1836. Book 336, Page 2. 



American Antiquarian Society to Worcester Academy. July 4, 
1854. Book 529, Page 362. 



OUR present home. 
This is undoubtedly a part of the forty acre lot laid out " for the 
Minister at Worcester," granted by the Proprietors, May 20, 1714. 
Proprietors' Records, Page 72. Described as " lying on both sides mill 
brook on ye south sideCapt. Wing's homestead now in ye possession of 
Mrs. Sarah Tomlin : bounded west by land in possession of CoUr Win- 
throp, south by a lott laid out to Deacon John Haywood, East by com- 
mon land, a highway running thro' part of this land." I have been unable 
to lind how this came into the possession of William Jennison. 



25 

Heirs of William Jennison to Mary Stearns : Partition, Nov. 29, 1750. 
Probate Records. 

Mary and Thomas Stearns to Edward Raymond. March 17, 17C3. 
Book 50, Page Ui. 

Edward Raymond to Luke Brown (1)' Dec. 22, 17G4. Book 56, Page 
525. 

Samuel Brooks, administrator of Luke Brown (1) to Luke Brown 
(2), reserving lot in northwest corner where Luke Brown (1) is buried, 
and store lot of Dr. William Shepard at southeast corner. Nov. 10, 
1772. Book 69, Page 157. 

Heirs of William Jennison to his grandchildren, Hannah, Samuel and 
Elizabeth Lydia Brown and Luke Brown (2). Partition and Decree as 
above. 

Hannah and Samuel Brown to Luke Brown (Ij one-half. Dec 1, 
1764. Book 53, Page 83. 

Elizabeth Lydia Taylor to Andrew Duncan, oue-fourtli. Oct. 30, 
1769. Book 62, Page 584. 

Luke Brown and Luke Brown, jr., to Andrew Duncan south part of 
this lot, and Andrew Duncan to Luke Brown and Luke Brown, jr., the 
north part (adjoining Mary Stearns lot). Agreement and Releases. 
May 3, 1770. Book 61. Page 465. 

[For tracts south of above, see Book 38, Page 406: Book 44, Page 
288; and above-mentioned Partition and Decree.] 

Samuel Brooks, executor of will of Luke Brown (2), to Isaiah 
Thomas. Dec. 16, 1781. Book 90, Page 191. 

Isaiah Thomas to Clark Whittemore [part]. Nov. 24, 1807. Book 167, 
Page 225. 

Clark Whittemore to Stephen Salisbury. March 22, 1833. Book 292, 
Page 157. 



Luke Brown (3) heir of Luke Brown (2) to Samuel and Stephen 
Salisbury, north and Avest of last tract. April 12, 1797. Book 130, 
Page 45. 

Samuel Salisbury to Stephen Salisbury. Oct. 22, 1812. B. 188, P. 3. 

Stephen Salisbury to Stephen Salisbury, only child. Inheritanck. 

Stephen Salisbury to American Antiquarian Society. March 10, 
1851. Book 476, Page 263. 



' There were three generations of Luke Browns in Worcester :— 

Luke Brown (1) came from Sudbury about 1745, and kept a tavern on the west 
side of Lincoln Street, just north of Lincoln Square, which was afterwards called 
" The Hancock Arms." He married Lydia, daughter of William Jennison, who was 
one of the leading citizens of Worcester. On a visit to New York lie contracted the 
smallpox, and died on Ajjril 14, 1772. 

Luke, Jr. (2), succeeded his father as tavern-keeper, and dietl Nov. G, 1776, aged 
31. He left one son, Luke (.3), and two daughters. 

Luke (3), born Nov. 29, 1722, was graduated at Harvard College in 1794, studied 
law and practised at Hardwick. 



26 

WEST PART OF PRKSENT LOT. 

Isaiah Thomas to heirs of his daughter, Mary Ann Simmons, by will. 

Worthington Williams to George A. Trumbull. Aug. 28, 184.5. B. 401. P. C52. 

Elizabeth C. and Abram G. Randall to same. March 18, 1848. B. 434, P. 256. 
Isaiah T. Williams by guardian, &c., to Levi Jackson. Aug. 14, 1845. B. 402, P. 322. 

Levi Jackson to William Jennison. Aug. 14, 1845. B. 402, P. 32G. 

Albert G. Tarleton, quitclaim to same. Jan. 4, 1847. B. 417, P. 546. 

Same and Mary T. Tarleton to same. March 2, 1848. B. 435, P. 2. 

Abigail Pride, life estate, to same. Feb. 4, 1848. B. 446, P. 402. 

Isaiah Thomas to same. May 4, 1848. B. 446, P. 403. 

Isaiah r. Williams to same. March 8, 1849. B. 446, P. 403. 
Prances C. and William A. Crocker, Caroline and Samuel Crocker, 

and Mary C. Crocker to William Jennison. Feb. 20, 1849. B. 446, P. 404. 

Benjamin F. Thomas to William Jennison, Moses Thomas and 

George A.Trumbull. April 18, 1849. B. 446, P. 63. 

Thomas, Jennison and Trumbull to John E. Hathaway. April 27, 
1849. Book 449, Page 341. 

John E. Hathaway to Stephen Salisbury a strip. June G, 1849. Book 
452, Page 4G0. 

Stephen Salisbury to Americ.\n Antiquarlvn Society with the lot 
fronting on Main street. March 10, 18.">1. Book 476, P. 263. 



John E. Hathaway to Ebenezer Harrington. Sept. 4, 1849. Book 
454, P. 219. 

Executors of Harrington to American Antiquarian Society, a 
triangular piece west of the Society's land, with a base of six feet on 
Highland street. May 27, 1852. Book 533, Page 390. 



Executors of Harrington to Joseph S. Farnum, west of last. Nov. 
28, 1854. Book 535, Page 429. 

Joseph S. Farnum to County of Worcester. Jan. 8, 1866. B. 718, P. 156. 

County of Worcester to American Antiquarian Society. July 20, 
1867. Book 749, Page 365. 

This deed is here given for contrast with the interchanged deeds on 
Pages Id et seq. :— 



Exempt 
from 

revenue 
stamp. 



County of Worcester to American Antiquarian Society. 



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the Inhah- 
itants of the Ci^untv of Worcestek by Charles A. Chase their 
Treasurer thereto lawfully authorized in consideration of two 
thousand three hundred and thirty-six dollars and twenty-flve 
cents to us paid by the AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY 
the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged do hereby give grant bargain sell and 
convey unto the said AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY its successors and 
assigns a tract of land on Highland Street in the City and County of Worcester, 
containing twenty-eight hundred and ninety and one-half feet and bounded as 
follows: Beginning at the Northeast corner thereof on Highland Street at land of 
grantees, thence running Southerly by land of grantees partly and i)artly across a 



27 

passage way sixty-three feet Ave and one-half inches to a point a little Southerly 
of the middle of said passage way thence Westerly by a line parallel with an 
extension of the line of the Southerly wall of Antiquarian Hall and twelve feet 
distant therefrom to a point twelve feet Easterly of the land of Joseph Chamberlin 
thence Northerly by a line parallel with the East line of Joseph Chamberlin's land 
and twelve feet distant therefrom fifty eight and fifty Ave one hundredths feet to 
Highland Street thence by said Highland Street fifty feet to the point of beginning. 
Excepting and reserving to the grantors their successors and assigns a right to a 
passage way along the entire Southerly and Westerly lines of the tract above 
described and a right to have said twelve feet kept forever open and unobstructed 
and free from buildings. And hereby granting to saitl Society their successors and 
assigns a like right of a passage way over so much of the remaining land of the 
grantor as lies Northerly of an extension Westward of the line of the entire portion 
of the North face of the wall of the Brick Court House including the strip twelve 
feet in width between the tract above conveyed and land of Joseph Chamberlin, 
and also the strip between said land above conveyed and said last described line : 
all of said passage way so granted to be kept forever open and unobstructed. 

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the abovegranted premises with all the privileges 
and appurtenances to the same belonging to the said AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN 
SOCIETY its successors and assigns to their use and behoof forever. And we the 
said Inhabitants do covenant with the said American Antiquarian Society its 
successors and assigns that we are lawfully seized in fee simple of the aforegranted 
premises that they are free from all incumbrances that we have good right to sell 
and convey the same to the said Society its successors and assigns forever as 
aforesaid and that we will warrant and defend the same to the said American 
Antiquarian Society its successors and assigns forever against the lawful claims 
and demands of all persons. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF we the said Inhabitants of the County of Worcester 
l)y Charles A. Chase our Agent authorized as aforesaid have signed these presents 
and set our seal hereto this twentieth day of July in the year of our Lord eighteen 
hundred and sixty seven. 
Signed, sealed and delivered 

in presence of Inhabitants of THE COUNTY OF 

John A. Dana " WORCESTER (seal) 

By Chakles a. Chase, Agent specially authorized 
• 

Worcester, ss. July 20, 1867. Then personally appeared the within 

named Charles A. Chase and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be the free 
act and deed of the Inhabitants of the County of Worcester, 

Before me, John A. Dana, .lustice of the Peace. 

Reed. July 23d. 18G7 at 2h. 5m. P. M. 

Entd. & Exd. By Alex. H. Wilder, Regr. 

Worcester, ss. A true copy of Record, recorded with Worcester District Deeds, 
Book 749, Page 3<">.'i. 

Attest: DANL. KENT, Register. 



28 
REMARKS OF SENATOR HOAR. 

After the reading of the foregoing paper, the Hon. 
George F. Hoar, one of the Vice-Presidents of the 
Society, said : — 

" I should like to state from recollection one or two 
facts suggested by the report of the Council which has 
been read. I should like to have it appear in the report of 
the Council, where Mr. Chase speaks of the mansion still 
standing, erected l)y your honored grandfather, that it was 
erected by him on land purchased of John Hancock. That 
might add to the historic associations of '^Lincoln square.' 
It is })erhaps known to some of the members, but ought to 
be })reserved in a more permanent way tlian in memory, that 
John Hancock acquired the land which has been alluded to 
by Mr. Chase as the property of Daniel Henchman, one of 
the first founders of Worcester, by the will of his aunt, 
Mrs. Thomas Hancock, who was a Henchman. It was a 
farm of three hundred acres, which was taken by Daniel 
Henchman, the old Puritan soldier, one of the founders of 
Worcester. This land descended from him to the wife of 
John Hancock's uncle Thomas. She left it Ijy her will to 
John Hancock, her husband's nephew. John Hancock 
dwelt there during the summer from 1781 to 1787, in a 
house which was moved off from the spot, but which now 
stands in Worcester, on Grove street.^ It is on the right 
hand side as you go from Lincoln square to the wire fac- 
tory, and can be easily distinguished b}^ some architectural 
ornaments not common in houses of that general character. 

"John Hancock dealt in real estate in Worcester <iuitc 
extensively. A great many of his purchases and sales are 
recorded in the Worcester County Registiy of Deeds, 
amonof them the sale of the land to Mr. Salislniry on what 
is now known as Lincoln square. The fact that he actually 
dwelt in the farmhouse on this farm, which then stood on 

• Southeast corner of Grove and Lexington streets. 



29 

Lincoln street, at the corner of Garden street (where the 
' Moen house' now stands), is established by an enquiry 
which I made many years ago of Mrs. Frederick W. Paine, 
a lady who lived to be nearly one hundred, a relative of 
our Treasurer. She had dAvelt with her husl^and for many 
years in the old Paine residence, still standing on Lincoln 
street. She said that the summer residence of John 
Hancock, on the spot south of the land of the Paines, was 
fre(juently spoken of in the famil}^ when she first came to 
Worcester. That house was afterward the residence of 
Levi Lincoln, the elder, the great political leader, one of 
our greatest political organizers — I will not use the Avord 
'boss' in the presence of his great-grandson. But he was 
a skilful manager of men, and, more than any other man, 
contributed to the great revolution in politics which took 
place in New England and elsewhere after the election of 
jNIr. Jefferson. He was not only nominated, but actually 
appointed, by the advice and consent of the Senate, Judge 
of the Supreme Court of the United States, b}' President 
Madison, on the urgent recommendation of Mr. Jefferson 
himself, who was his closest personal friend. (His pa- 
pers are in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical 
Society in this building. ) When the late Governor Levi 
Lincoln, after his graduation in 1802, delivered an address 
on the fourth of March, 1803, Mr. Jefferson wrote a very 
earnest letter to his father, commending the address, and 
predicting the future eminence of Mr. Lincoln. This 
house was sold in 1847 with the old Lincoln farm to a 
gentleman who cut up the land and sold it. Now the John 
Hancock house in Bqston has gone, to the great regret of 
everybody. George Bancroft's house in Worcester has 
been suffered by great negligence to be destroyed within a 
few years. It is to be hoped that the Hancock house in 
Worcester, with its memories of two famous statesmen, 
though now moved from its original place, may in some 
way be preserved. 



30 

"Mr. President, the report of the Council also gave an 
account of the release, by the heirs of Isaiah Thomas, of 
the conditions on which our first building on Summer street 
was given to the Society. I remember a very entertaining 
fact about that, which shows the habits and motives that 
affected ladies in the time when Dr. Hale and myself were 
young. I was a student in Judge Thomas's office at that 
time, or had just been, and had an office next door to his. 
He took great interest in the neAV hall, and in having this 
old estate which his grandfather had given, (juitclaimed to 
the Society. It reijuired the assent of all the heirs ; other- 
wise we should forfeit the property. They got the assent 
of all the heh's but one lad}^ a cousin of the Judge, living in 
a neighboring town. She would not give hers. No offer 
of money and no persuasion could get her signature. At 
last the Judge was asked to take the matter in hand. He 
went to see her. If anybodj' then living could " laugh on 
a lass with his bonny, blue eye,' it Avas Ben Thomas. He 
came back exultant, and reported his success in the office. 
He said he had tried to })ersuade her, and spent the whole 
afternoon talking to her ; she said no, that her grandfather 
Thomas meant to have the property left in that way ; and 
she would not sign. He told her that all the other heirs had 
assented ; well, she didn't care about that ; he told her she 
could have almost any sum of money she would name. 
All was without avail. At last, just as he Avas going off, 
he said, 'My dear cousin, if you Avill sign that deed you 
shall have the handsomest silk gown there is in Milll)ury ; ' 
and she sii>:ned it." 



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